Combined transformer and illuminating device



June 13, 1939. J. A. lcczfMsTocKv 2,161,853

v*COMBINED T RANSFORIER AND ILLUMINATING DEVICE Filed Jan. 15, 1936 Y 2 Sheets-Sheet l www INVENTOR.

Janes A. Comdock.

BY M51 MM ATTORNEY.

June 13, 1939. J. A. coMsTocK 2,161,853

coulmzn Tmmsroaufm AND ILLUMNATING DEVICE Filed Jan.- 15, 193e l 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR,

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Patented `lune l13, 1939 UNI-TED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMBINED TBANSFORMER AND ILLUMI- NATING DEVICE Application January 15, 1936, Serial No. 59,251

9 Claims.

My invention relates generally to a combined transformer and illuminating device.

An object of my invention is the provision of constructing a transformer and an illuminating device as a unit which may be suspended by any suitable means such, for example, as by the conduit through which the supply conductors pass upon entering the transformer housing.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a transformer housing having the two end portions, one of said end portions being adapted to carry the illuminating device and the other end portion being adapted to provide space for making electrical connections with the supply circuit, v

It is a further object of my invention vto provide for suspending the combined transformer and illuminating device as a unit.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a transformer housing having two end brackets, one of said brackets being adapted to carry the weight of the illuminating device and the other bracket being adapted to engage the conduit from which it may be suspended and carry the combined weight of the transformer and the illuminating device.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of mounting an electrical socket for an illuminating device upon a transformer housing so that the combined socket and transformer housing may be suspended as a unit.

It is also an object of my invention to provide for mounting a transformer and a capacitor in a housing and for suspending an electrical socket for receiving an illuminating device upon the housing and suspending the entire unit as a combination.

A still further object of my invention is to provide for mounting an electrical socket for receiving an illuminating device in the end portion of a housing that encloses a transformer which energizes the illuminating device.

It is also an object of my invention to construct an illuminating device with both incandescent lamps and with gaseous tube lamps and to suspend said illuminating device by a transformer housing having a high leakage reactance transformer for energizing the gaseous tube lamp and having supply conductors for energizlng the incandescent lamp.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of my invention may be had by referring to the following description and claims, taken in combination with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l illustrates a combined transformer (Cl. 24o-11.4)

and an illuminating device embodying the features of my invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged and a cross-sectional view of the combined transformer and the illuminating device shown in Figure l;

Figure 3 is a modified form of my invention and illustrates in addition to the embodiment shown in Figures l and 2, a capacitor mounting in the transformer housing to improve the power factor of the lighting circuit;

Figure 4L is another form of my invention and shows the socket for the lighting device mounted in the end lower portion. of the transformer housing;

Figure 5 is another iorm of my invention wherein the illuminating device is suspended at a distance below the transformer housing by a conduit and wherein the electrical connections for the supply conductors are made in a conduit box above the transformer housing; and

Figure 6 illustrates a diagrammatic view of a reactance coil for controlling the energization of the illuminating device instead of the high leakage reactance transformer shown in the other forms of my invention.

With reference to Figures 1 and 2, my invention comprises two main parts, (one) an electrical energizing device indicated generally by the reference character lll, and (two) an illuminating device indicated generally by the reference character il.

The electrical energizing device i will be described irst. As illustrated in Figure 2, the electrical energizing device I0 comprises briefw a transformer i2, a housing i8 for the transformer, having an upper end drum i9 and a lower end drum 210.

The magnetic core i3 of the transformer i2 may be constructed in the usual manner of a plurality of stacked laminations. In the form illustrated, the magnetic core is of the shell type having a primary winding I4 and a secondary winding I mounted upon the central leg thereof. Positioned between the primary winding and the secondary winding are two magnetic shunts i6 which magnetically bridge the space between the central magnetic leg and each of the outer magnetic legs. The purpose of the magnetic shunt i8 is to limit the value of the secondary' current by by-passing a portion of the primary ux when the secondary current increases beyond a pre-determined safe limit. The reluctance o1' the magnetic shunts is greater than the reluctance of the secondary core portion surrounded by the secondary winding. Therefore,

der to contain the insulating compound, the' when the secondary current is relatively low, substantially all of the primary iiux interlaces the secondary winding. However, when the secondary current becomes relatively high, there is a large opposing secondary flux set up in the secondary core portion to oppose the passage of the primary flux. Under this condition, a portion ot the primary flux is by-passed through the shunts I6 with 'the resultV that the secondary current is decreased to its safe operating value.

In accordance with the usual construction of transformers, the magnetic core I3 and the primary winding I4 and the secondary winding I5 may be suitably supported within the housing I8 and properly insulated from the housing I8 by an insulating compound which is poured in a molten condition in the transformer housing I8. In ortransformer housing I8 is provided with a lower partition 22 and an upper partition 2|. 'I'he lower partition 22 snugly fits within the housing I8 and may be fastened thereto by any, suitable means, such as, by welding which is indicated by the reference character 21. During the construction of the transformer, the molten insulating compound is poured in from the top after which the upper partition 2| is snugly pressed into the upper open end of the housing I8.

In order to suspend the entire combined transformer and illuminating 'device in a good strong manner, I employ an upper bracket 31 which has its lower ends connected to the upper inside edge of the housing I8 by any suitable mannen-.such as by welding which is indicated by the reference character 38. The upper end of the bracket 31 is provided with an opening into which a threaded collar 39 is mounted. As illustrated, the collar 39 is provided with a stepped shoulder 40 so as to engage the underneath side of the bracket 31 and make a good strong support for suspending the combined transformer and illuminating device. The threaded collar 39 is provided with suitable female threads to receive the male threads of the conduit 4| from which the entire combined transformer and illuminating device may be suspended. In order to facilitate the wiring of the transformer, the upper end drum I9 is provided at its upper end with an opening 42. Therefore, when making the electrical connections, the upper end drum I9 may be disconnected by means of the screws 43 from the upper end of the housing I8 and slid up the conduit 4|V to provide access for connecting the internal wiring connections to the switch 18 mounted on the inside wall of the housing I8 and to the insulated and independent terminals 28, 29, 38, 8|, and 82 mounted upon the upper partition 2|. In the position shown, the supply conductor 1| is connected to the insulated terminal 28 and the supply conductor 12 is connected to the upper terminal of the switch 18. The lower terminal of the switch 18 may be connected by a conductor 11 to either the insulated terminals 28, 88, or 3|. In the position shown it is connected to the terminal 30. The underneath side of the terminal 28 is connected by a conductor 18 to the lower end of the primary winding I4. The underneath side gof the terminals 29, 30, and 3| are respectively connected by means of the conductors 14, 15, and 18 to the upper, the middle, and the lower taps of the primary winding, which taps are indicated generally by the reference character I1. .'Iherei'ore, by connecting the conductor 11 to either the terminals 28, 88,-or 8|, we obtain a different impressed voltage u`pon the primary winding I4. l

The illuminating device II comprises a gaseous tube 59, two incandescent lamps 82 and 85, and a reflector 54 having suitable Ventilating openings 88. The gaseous tube may be of any suitable type, such, for example, as a high pressure mercury vapor tube or any other tube operated by the ionization of the contained gas. In the operation of these gaseous tubes, it requires a high initial voltage to cause ionization, but when ionization is once established, the normal operating voltage is relatively low. The socket 51 for the gaseous tube and the sockets 88 and 84 for the incandescent lamps 82 and 85 may be suitably mounted upon a supporting plate 55. For instance, the socket 51 for the gaseous tube may be connected to the supporting plate 55 by the'screws 58, the socket 88 for the incandescent lamp 82 may be connected to the supporting plate 55 by the screws 6I, and the socket 83 for the incandescent lamp 85 may be connected to the supporting plate 5.5 by the screws 84. The supporting plate 55 is in turn connected to a supporting @ange 52 by means of the threaded cap screws 56. As illustrated, the supporting flange 52 is threadably connected by means of the thread 53 to athreaded collar 49, which is supported by a bracket 41 having its upper ends connected to the lower inside edge of the housing I8 of the electrical energizing device I8. The upper ends of the lower bracket 41 may be connected to the housing in any suitable manner such as by welding, which is indicated by the reference character 4B. The threaded collar 49 is provided with a stepped shoulder 58 for engaging the lower bracket 41 to make a good strong connection for supporting the weight of the electrical illuminating device II. By means of the foregoing construction, the illuminating device Il may be threadably attached or detached from the electrical energizing device I0. Before threadably attaching the illuminating device II to the electrical energizing device I II, the lower end drum 28 may be attached to the housing of the electrical energizing device I0 by means of the screws 5I.

The incandescent lamps 82 and 85 are energized by the supply voltage. The circuit for illuminating the incandescent lamp 82 may be traced as follows: Beginning with the supply conductor 1I, current ows through the terminal 28, a conductor 8|, a terminal 88 insulatably mounted in the lower partition 22, a conductor 86 to the socket 88, whereupon the current flows through the incandescent lamp 82, and back through the socket to a conductor 98 which is connected to the terminal 88 insulatably mounted in the lower partition 22, from whence current flows through the conductor 88, the terminal 82 in the upper partition 2|, a conductor 19 to the switch 18 and finally to the other supply conductor 12. The incandescent lamp 85 is energized by two conductors 88 and 89 which are respectively connetic shunts I8, is adapted to give a high initialvoltage to ionize the gas in the gaseous tube 59 and adapted, when the gas is once ionized, to reduce the value of the secondary voltage to such value as to limit the value of the secondary current flowing through the gaseous tube.

In Figure 3, I show a modified arrangement of my embodiment of the combined transformer and illuminating device and like reference characters represent like parts to those shown in Figures 1 and 2. In this embodiment of my invention, I utilize a capacitor which is connected in circuit relation with the transformer to improve the power factor of the lighting circuit. As illustrated, the housing 95 is provided with a transformer 94 and the capacitor |00. Separating the capacitor |00 and the transformer 94 is a central partition 9,1 having suitable terminals to take care of the proper electrical connections.

'I'he primary winding 96 of the transformer is PLQYided with a plurality of taps. The tap which -isiilustrated on'the left hand side of the primary winding and intermediate of its two ends is connected by a conductor |04 through a terminal in the middle partition 91 to a conductor |03, which is in turn connected to the terminal 28 in the upper partitionZF and which is energized by the supply conductor 1|. The lower terminal on the right hand side of the primary winding 96 is connected to the upper terminal I0| of the capacitor by means of a conductor 98 which leads to the third terminal from the left in the central partition and which third terminal is in turn connected to the upper terminal |0| of the capacitor |00. The upper terminal on the right hand side of the primary winding 96 is connected to` the terminal |02 of the capacitor |00 by means of a conductor |06 which is connected to the filth terminal from the left in the central partition, which fifth terminal is in turn connected to the terminal |02 of the capacitor |00. The

terminal |02 of the capacitor is also connected to the terminal 29 which is energized by the supply conductor 12 through the switch 18. The second tap from the top on the right hand side of the primary winding 96 is connected by means of a conductor |01 to the fourth terminal from the left in the central partition 91, which fourth terminal is in turn connected to the terminal 38 in the upper partition 2|. The third terminal from the top on the right hand side of the primary winding 96 is connected by means of a conductor |08 tothe second terminal from the left in the middle partition 91 which second terminal is connected to the terminal 3| in the upper partition 2|. Therefore, by the arrangement of the foregoing connections, the capacitor |00 is connected across the entire primary winding 96 to improve the power factor of the lighting circuit.

Also by arrangement of the adjustable taps, the i terminal 28 by means of the two conductors |05 v and |03 and the lower termina1'36 is connected to the upper terminal 32 by means of the conductors ||0 and |09. The operation of the embodiment shown in Figure 3 is substantially the same as that described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 with the added provision, however. that the capacitor |00 improves the power factor of the circuit for energizing the gaseous tube 59.

In Figure 4, I show a further modified form of my invention in that the socket |4 for the gaseous tube |8 is mounted inside of the end drum. of the transformer housing I8. The socket ||4 is connected by means of screws ||5 to a flanged support ||2 which threadably engages a collar ||3 that is carried by a transverse bracket having its ends-suitably connected as by welding to the lower bracket 41. The reflector ||6 may be connected to the lower bracket 41 by means of screws In this embodiment of the invention, the transformer is substantially the same as those shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3 and may be utilized with or without a capacitor.

In Figure 5, I show a somewhat different arrangement of suspending the electrical energizing' device l0 and the electrical illuminating device In thisv embodiment, the electrical illuminating device ||is suspended by means of a conduit |30 that is carried from a collar |22 mounted directly upon the lower end drum |20 which is connected to the housing |8 by means of the screws |29. 'I'he upper endpof the housing |8 is carried directly by the upper end drum ||9 which is connected to the housing |8 by the screws |28. In this construction, the weight is carried solely by the end drums ||9 and |20 without the utilization o f brackets as shown in the other forms of my invention. The upper endV of the drum ||9 is provided with a threadable collar |2| which threadably engages the conduit |23. The electrical connections between the transformer and the supply conductors |25 and |26 are made in a conduit box |24 which' is suspended by a conduit |21. In this form of my invention the transformer and the internal wiring connections are the same as those shown in Figures l, 2, and 3, and the transformer may be with or without a capacitor, and the electrical illuminating device may be provided either with a single gaseous tube as shown in Figure 4 or with a gaseous tube and a' v winding |32 of the reactance |3| is connected in series with the supply conductors |33 and |34 and the gaseous tube |35. As illustrated, the winding |32 is provided with additional taps |31 and |38 which may be connected to the supply conductor |33 to vary the voltage. The reactance |3| may be mounted in the housing in the same manner as the transformers are mounted in the housings shown and described with reference to Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.

Although I have described my invention with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in thedetails of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination, with an electrical illuminating device, of an electrical device for energizing the illuminating device, a housing for the .electrical energizing device, said housingl having a central portion and two end portions, a iirst partition forrseparating the central portion and one of saidv end portions, a second partition for separating the central portion and the other of said end portions, means for mounting the electrical energizing device between the two partitions, means for supporting the electricallilluminating devicefrom one of said end portions, means for suspending the electrical illuminating device and the electrical energizing device as a unit from the other of said end portions, terminal members carried by the first partition, supply conductors passing through the suspending means and connected to the terminals mounted on the first partition, tap conductors interconnecting the electrical energizing device and the terminals mounted on the rst partition, and circuit connections passing through the second partition and the supporting means for interconnecting the electrical energizing device and the illuminating device.

2. The combination, with an electrical illuminating device, of an electrical device for energizing the illuminating device, a housing for the electrical energizing device, said housing having a central portion and two end portions, a first partition for separating the central portion and one of said end portions, a second partition for separating the central portion and the other of said end portions, means for mounting the electrical energizing device between the twovpartitions, means for supporting the electrical illuminating device from one of said end portions, means for suspending the electrical illuminating device .and the electrical energizing device as a unit from the other of said end portions, circuit .connections passing through the suspending means andthe first partition to energize the electrical energizing device, means mounted onv circuit connections, and circuit connections passing through the second partition and the supporting means for interconnecting the electrical energizing device and the illuminating device.

3. The combination, with an electrical illuminating device having a gaseous tube and an incandescent lamp, of an electrical device for energizing the gaseous tube, a housing for the electrical device, said housing havinga central portion and two end portions, a iirst partition for separating the central portion and one of said end portions, a second partition for separating the central portion and the other of said end portions, means for mounting the electrical energizing device between the -two partitions, means for supporting the electrical illuminating device from one of said end portions, means for suspending the electrical illuminating device and the electrical energizing device as a unit from the other of said end portions, circuit connections passing through the suspending means and the rst partition to energize vthe electrical energizing device, means mounted on the rst partition for adjustably varying the said circuit connections, circuit connections ,passing through the second partition and the supporting means for interconnecting the electrical energizing device andthe gaseous tube, and circuit connections passing through the twopartitions and the supporting device forenergizing the incandescent lamp.

' 4, An electrical suspension device arranged to be suspended at its upper end from a supply conduit and adapted to carry an electrical illuminating device from its lower end comprising,

necting the said bracket to the supply conduit, I

lower bracket means mounted inside of the housing from which the illuminating device may be suspended, the said lower bracket means having connection means towhich the illuminating device may be detachably suspended, the upper end of the housing having an opening through which the lower end of the supply conduit may pass and engage the connection means of the upper bracket, the lower end of the housing hav' ing an opening registering with the connection means of the lower bracket means, the said electrical device having conductor leads arranged for electrical connections inside of the housing with the supply conductors, the said housing having a removable portion for giving access to the inside of the housing for making said electrical connections.

5. An electrical suspension device arranged to be suspended at its upper end from a supply conduit and adapted to carry an electrical illuminating device from its lowerv end comprising, in combination, an electrical device arranged to be energized by supply conductors passing through the supply conduit and adapted to deliver current to the electrical illuminating device, a housing for the electrical device, upper bracket means mounted inside of the housing for suspending the electrical device, the housing and the illuminating device, the said upper bracket means having connection means for detachably connecting the said bracket to the supply conduit, lower bracket means mounted inside of the housing from which the illuminating device may be suspended, the said lower bracket means having connection means to which the illuminating device may be detachably suspended, said housing having a central portion and an upper and a lower end portion, said central portion encompassing the electrical device and the upper and lower end portions covering respectively the upper and lower bracket means, the upper end portion of the housing having an opening through which the lower end of the supply conduit may pass and engage the connection means of the upper bracket, the lower end portion of the housing having an opening registering with the connection means of the lower bracket means, the said electrical device having conductor leads arranged for electrical connections inside of the housing with the supply conductors, the said housing having a removable portionfor giving access to the inside of the housing for making said electrical connections.

6. An electrical suspension device arranged to be suspended at its upper end from a supply conduit and adapted to carry an electrical illuminating device from its lower end comprising, in

` combination, an electrical device arranged to .be

energized by supply conductors passing through the supply conduit and adapted to deliver current to the electrical illuminating device, a. housing for the electrical device, upper bracket means mounted inside of the houaingforsuspending the electrical' device,the housing and the illuminating device, the said upper bracket means havingconnectionmeansior detachablyconnecting g the saidbracket to the supply conduit, lower bracket means mounted inside of the housing from which .the illuminating device may be suspended, the said lower bracket means having connection means to which the illuminating dela vice may be detachably suspended, the upper end of the housing having an opening through which the lower end of the supply conduit may pass and engage the connection means o! the upper bracket, the lower. end of the housing havu ing an opening registering with the connection means of the lower bracket means, terminal members positioned in the housing and arranged for electrical connection with the supply conductors, the said electrical device having conductor leads arranged for electrical connections with the terminal members inside of the housing. the said housing having a removable portion forgiving access to the inside of the housing for making said electrical connections between the I terminal members and the supply conductors.

' 7. An electrical suspension device arranged to be suspended at its upper end' from a supply conduit and adapted to carry an electrical illuminating device from its lower end comprising,

.u in combinatioman electrical devicearranged to be energized by supply conductors passing through the supply conduit and adapted to deliver to the electrical illuminating device. a housing for the electrical device, upper bracketmeans s mounted inside of the housing for suspending the electrical device, the housing and the illumi- .nating device. the said upper bracket means having connection meansfor detachably connecting the said bracket to the supply conduit, 40 lower bracket means mounted inside of the housing from which the illuminating device may be suspended, the said lower bracket means having socket means to which the illuminating device may be detachably suspended, said housing hava ing a central portion andan upper and a lower end portion, said central portion encompassing the electrical device and the upper and lower end portions covering respectively the upper and lower -bracket means, the upper end portion of u the housinghaving an opening through which .the lower end ofthey supply conduit may pass andengagethe connectionmeansoftheupper bracket. the lower end portion'of thehoining having an opening registering with the socket Imeansofthelovwerin'acketxrileana.thesaidelcctrical device having conductor leads arranged for electrical connections inside of the housing with the supply conductorathe said housing having a removable portion for giving access to the inside of thev housing for making said electrical coni nections.

8. A device arranged for use with an electrical illuminating device and a supply conduit having supply conductors comprising. in combination, a transformer for energizing the illuminating de- 10 vice; a iirst housing provided on one side of the transformer, a second housing provided on the other side of the transformer, means for mounting the transformer between the two housings and providing a unitary structure, said second 1I housing having connection means to which the illuminating device may be attached, said first housing having connection means for the supply conduit, terminal members provided in the nrst housing and arranged for connection with U the supply conductors. said transformer having tap conductors connected to the terminal members, said iirst housing having a removable portion for giving access to the inside thereof for making electrical connections between the supl ply conductors and the terminal members.

9. A device arranged for use with an electrical illuminating device and a supply conduit having supply conductors, said illuminating device including a gaseous tube and an incandescent lamp, 80 comprising. in combination, a transformer for energialng the gaseous tube of the illuminating device, a nrst housing provided on onel side of the transformer, a second housing provided on the other side of the transformer, means for al mounting the transformer between the two heus-- ings and providing a unitary structure.. said second housing having connection means to which the illuminating device may be attached, said. first housing having connection means for the o supply conduit, terminal members provided in the iirst housing and arranged for connection. with the supply conductors, said transformer having tap conductors connected to the terminal members-said iii-st housing having a removable a* lamp.

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